dsc05528.jpg

Pete Conrad (above) and Gordon Cooper created the first space crew patch. Pete
took this patch (left) with him aboard the Gemini V spacecraft for its record
8-day journey.

The crew designed the patch with the "8 days or bust" slogan, but NASA brass
objected to this, fearing that the press would have a field day if the mission
lasted less than 8 days. A compromise was reached whereby the crew covered the
slogan with a piece of cloth. After the mission was completed, they removed
the cloth to expose the slogan. Additional information on this matter may be
found here.